Don't get me wrong, the CupSpeakers were interesting, but if you are looking for a cup-based speaker solution that is a little more tech and a little less ghetto this DIY project should fit the bill. Using a couple of grande-sized coffee cups and a TDA1552Q amplifier chip, you should be able to construct a pair of coffee-themed speakers that can actually crank out some sound. The project page is in Japanese, but the basic translation and the schematic should give you enough information to make a set for yourself.

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There are concepts that could, and probably will happen. And then there are those that just make us smile. The Drip with Song falls definitely into the latter category. Essentially a portable CD player and speakers squeezed into a saucer, the best part is that you can "dock" your cup and twist it to control the volume. (Though be careful not to spill.) I know I'm a macho guy and everything, but I'm not afraid to say it: How cute!! [Yanko Design]

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Wired is having a little art contest to make things from the stuff you get at Starbucks, and to provide some inspiration, they showed off photographer Dan Winters' amazing TIE fighter sculpture. Everybody's favourite Galactic Empire spacecraft was made out of nearly 50 Starbucks cups, 216 stirrers, over 60 drink holders and a couple of coffee boxes thrown in for good measure. Wow. Even for me, that's a lot of coffee. [Wired]

The wizards at Korea's Yujin Robot have invented a coffee-serving robot. I wish I could tell you more about it, particularly why coffee; looks like it wouldn't have any trouble just as easily serving beer, absinthe or cupcakes. Aving didn't post any additional descriptions, just great photos, so I'm not even sure Cafero knows how to make the coffee it serves. Whatever, it's a cool-looking semi-humanoid robot—with its with tray-friendly arms, a big wheely foot and a touchscreen face—so I decided to share it with you, in depth description or no. [Aving]

Without that cup of coffee in the morning most of us would be completely useless. Now our gadgets can get the same jump start thanks to this coffee cup charger from PowerLine. It features 2 AC outlets and one USB charging port with 200 watts of continuous power (400 watt peak). That's enough to power up some TVs and laptops. Because of its coffee cup shape, the charger fits snugly into most cup holders so it would be ideal for long trips. Just make sure that you don't reach for the PowerLine when you are looking for a sip of Starbucks. Sticking your tongue in this thing would be seriously unpleasant. Available for $US27. [Amazon via GadgetGrid via Coolbuzz]

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We down 2-3 cups of coffee a day at Gizmodo Midwest HQ (my tiny apartment consisting of just me), but rarely do we put thought in the labour that brings us beans (fair trade, I swear!). Luckily, BoingBoing corresponded with the 2008 US World Barista Champion to take a look at coffee harvesting in Brazil. Because otherwise, we'd never have known about giant harvesting vehicles that engulf whole trees or the juxtaposition of automated and traditional drying, roasting and packing techniques that follow collection. If you like coffee, you'll enjoy the 6-minute clip. [boingboing]

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Designer Ivo Vos has assembled in "The Brunch" a routine-ruining set of kitchen accessories. It really reminds you to never take anything for granted, if you assume "anything" to mean "toast" and "coffee." We've seen a projectile toaster before, but it was more of a tool of force than of precision toastmanship. Some of the other concepts in the gallery at the source link seem an awful lot like obsessive compulsive tools (a saw box for bread?) but I wouldn't kick any of them out of my kitchen. [Yanko]

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It takes a lot for a coffee cup to impress me. Hell, if no cups were available I would probably have the barista pour coffee into my cupped hands. Still, it is hard not to be taken aback by the nerdy coolness of this zoom lens design. Unfortunately, the cup is only a concept at this point, and making one for yourself could prove to be an expensive little project. But I would be the first in line to buy one if someone produced a version at a reasonable price. [yok2008 via Coolbuzz via Shiny Shiny via Dvice]

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We are at the Philips press conference and it has started with... a Senseo coffee machine that can make latte macchiatos? Apparently, the new home appliances part of IFA is big. But there's more, here comes their first TV, called Essence.

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The boardroom is tense. Your boss is negotiating with their boss over the Big Merger. Accountants discuss endless piles of financial statements. Somewhere a middle manager is getting grilled over an $800 dinner spotted in the audit. There are tears in his eyes and sweat on his brow. And there you are, feet up on the desk with an LED pirate mug in hand. You and your stock options have nothing to worry about because you're quitting/getting fired anyway. Good thing that mug only cost you US$4. [The Big Pirate via Nerd Approved]